IMMUNOLOGICAL FEATURES BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL COVID-19 PATIENTS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Yasir Ishaq; Muhammad Omar Malik; Yasar Mehmood Yousafzai; Maria Qubtia; Imran Ullah Khan; Awal Mir

doi:10.46903/gjms/22.4.suppl.1583

IMMUNOLOGICAL FEATURES BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL COVID-19 PATIENTS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Yasir Ishaq, Muhammad Omar Malik, Yasar Mehmood Yousafzai, Maria Qubtia, Imran Ullah Khan, Awal Mir

Abstract

Background: Cell-mediated immunity T-cells plays an essential role in efficient antiviral responses against coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Objective of the study was to compare the mean percentage of CD4 and CD8 T-cells between urban and rural COVID-19 patients and to assess the correlation between lymphocyte characteristics (CD4%, CD8%, CD4/CD8 ratio) and demographic factors (age, gender, location) in COVID-19 patients.

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study with duration of 6 months in 2021 was conducted in Peshawar’s major hospitals with a total of 71 COVID-19 patients. Sample were collected via convenience sampling technique. The study excluded individuals with active viral, autoimmune, or oncological conditions and those with a pre-existing history of chronic diseases or prior treatment with immunosuppressive drugs before contracting COVID-19. Flow cytometry analysis on a Beckman-Coulter Cytoflex, utilizing anti-human directly conjugated antibodies, assessed CD4 and CD8 percentages and ratios in T cells. The study calculated means, frequencies, and performed Point-Biserial correlation and Eta-squared was used.

Results: The results showed that the mean age of patients was 46.07±15.87, with the highest frequency observed in the 60-75 age group (29.58%) and the 30-44 age group (28.17%). Rural patients were founded higher than urban residing patients. Urban COVID-19 patients, except for CD8%, exhibited higher CD4% and CD4/CD8 ratio compared to rural patients. The CD4%, CD8%, and ratio CD4/CD8 was 48.01±11.10, 49.05±10.58, and 1.09±0.53, respectively, and the Pearson correlation analysis showed highly significantly (P value<0.01) strong negative association between CD4% and CD8% whereas strong positive association was found for CD4% and CD8% with CD4/CD8 ratio.

Conclusion: COVID-19 minimally impacted CD4%, but markedly increased CD8% and decreased CD4/CD8 ratio. The CD4% and CD8% were closely associated, suggesting heightened CD8% expression and reduced CD4/CD8 ratio in COVID-19 immune responses.

Keywords

COVID-19; T cells; CD4%; CD8%; CD4/CD8 ratio.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46903/gjms/22.4.suppl.1583